Torsion function on character varieties (Q2046767)

Let \(M\) be a complete hyperbolic \(3\)-manifold with one toric cusp. The complete structure on \(M\) determines naturally a holonomy representation \(\rho:\pi_1(M) \rightarrow \text{PSL}(2,\mathbb{C})\), up to conjugation. Since \(\rho\) can be lifted to a \(\text{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})\)-representation, any such lift identifies a one-dimensional irreducible component, called geometric component, of the \(\text{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})\)-character variety. Given a geometric component \(X\), there exists an irreducible representation of \(\pi_1(M)\) on the group \(\text{SL}(2,\mathbb{C}(X))\), where \(\mathbb{C}(X)\) is the field of fractions. In such a context, if we compute the Reidemeister torsion of the twisted complex \(\text{C}^\ast(M,\rho)\) we obtain a rational function \(\text{tor}_X\) on \(X\). The author proves that the function tor\(_X\) is actually a regular function. Additionally, it vanishes at a point \(\chi \in X\) if and only if the twisted cohomology group \(\text{H}^1(M,\rho)\) does not vanish, where \(\rho:\pi_1(M) \rightarrow \text{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})\) has character \(\chi\). The torsion tor\(_X\) extends to a rational function of the smooth projective model \(\hat{X}\) of the component \(X\). Following Culler-Shalen theory, any ideal point \(x \in \hat{X} \setminus X\) determines an incompressible surface \(\Sigma(x) \subset M\) and a representation \(\rho_\Sigma:\pi_1(\Sigma)\rightarrow \text{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})\), called residual representation. The author shows that if \(\Sigma(x)\) is a union of parallel surfaces whose complement is a handlebody, \(\rho_\Sigma\) is non-trivial and Tr\((\rho_\Sigma([\partial \Sigma])=2\), then the function tor\(_X\) has a pole on \(x \in \hat{X}\) and hence it is not constant on \(X\). Several examples of the latter phenomenon are provided.